Type-basket shift for typewriters



l .msnm

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. ELLIS TYPE BASKET SHIFTYFOR TYPEWRITERS `oigin Filed FSB. 5 19191 ...NfNhNW May 26, w25. 1,539,171

H. ELLIS TYPE BASKET SHIFT FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Feb. 5, 191g 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26,l 1925./

PATENT- OFFICE. i

HALCOLM ELLIS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-BASKET SHIFT FOR TYPEWRIIERS.

original application mea 'February s, 1919, serial No. 275,118. Divided arid this application atea February 19, 1923.

To @ZZ l'1U/tom t may concern:

IBe it -known that I, HALooLM ELLrs, acitizen of the United States, residing at'l Newark, in the county of Essex and `State of New Jersey, have invented certainitnew, and-useful -Improvements in Type-Basket Shifts for Typewriters, vof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of typewriters of the'standard, as distinguished from the portable, type having a shiftable basket carrying the type bars and it pertains to improved lost motion shifting means for the ty'pe basket segment and limiting means whereby the exact limits of movement of the type basket segments are in- .'sured .without reference to the extent of depression of the shift key.

` Thepresent application is a division of my Patent No. 1,446,388, Feb. 20, 1923.

`In those typewriters having a shiftable y type basket, when vit is desired to print a capital letter, the'shiftkey is depressed, causing the type basket and type bars to be elevated suiiiciently tol bring Athe lower type on the type block into printing position, the carriage meanwhile remainingstationary. This type of typewriter has the advantage of enabling a simple and irm lcarriage to be used, promotesgood type alignment, obviates thenecessity of using the counterbalancing springs required with a shifting carriage, and produces the same shift key touch with a carriage of any length.

My present invention, embodying an improved lost motion shifting means comprising, in part, a spring device, insures the elevation of the type basket to its full limit and yet the type basket will not move past the proper position for printing a capital letter or any lower case type even though the shift key `is depressed further than necessary.` The lost motion 'means compensates for unnecessary movement ofthe. shift key without placing any of the parts under strain or requiring heavy touch of the finger.

lVhile the present improvements are' illustrated in connection with a typewriter, such as disclosed in my aforesaid patent, this is done for the purpose of disclosing a practical embodiment of the invention and. relationship to fthe parts of a typewriter and not by way of limitation of the inven- Serial No;v 620,088.

. tion as the latter may beused on any typicwriter employing a shiftablebasket ensegment carrying the type bars.

A The invention is susceptible of modificar tion and is not limited to the specic etnbodimentdescribed hereinafter and disclosed in the drawing. 1

' In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a typewriter provided with my present improvements; p

Fig. 2, a detail front elevation of the basket segment, showing the stops which limit the vertical play of thelatter;

F ig. l3, a detail perspective ofthe shift keys and means for raising the basket-segment, and

Fig. 4, a detail cross section of the lost motion connection of'the .basket-segment shifting means.

The key levers are shown at 1, the operating connections for the type'bars appear at 7, 8, 9 and 13, and the type bars appear at 12. The type bars are mounted in the vertically shiftable type basket or segment 15 on a pivot wire 1 The type basket 15 is of segmental form having 'vertical guides or ways 16 mating those shown at 17 on the machine frame, Ball bearings 18, Fig. 2, may be employed. The lupper and lower limits of movement of the typev basket segment are determined by adjustable stops 19 on the machine frame and adjustable stops20 on the type basket segment 15.

Carried by a shaft 32 are two shift key moves the arm 34 and elevates the type basket segment 15 until-the latter is arrested bythe contact of the4 stops 20 with the upper stops 19. Further depression ofthe key 33 will not swing the arm 34 any further but only place an additional tension on the spring 38, whereupon the pinand-slot connection will yield.

A shift key lock is provided which comprises a small cam 39 having a key type at its upper end and pivoted on the side frame of the machine. This cani bears onv a pin 40 on the left-hand key lever 33. The depression of the key Will turn the cam 39 in such a Way as `to depress the key lever 33;

1. In a typewriter,- the combination with` a shiftabletype basket, and means for limiting its play, .of a pair of operating key levers for shifting the type basket, a shaft to, which said key levers are connected, the

'key levers and shaft comprising a unitary l structure, a lifting arm for the type basket, and a spring-tensioned lost-motion upright connectionbetweenl the shaft and the arm.

2. In a typewriter, the combination With a shiftable type basket, and means for limiting its play, of a pair of operating key levers for shifting thel type basket, a shaft to which said key levers are connected, the key levers and shaft constituting a unitary structure, a lifting arm for the type basket,

said' arm being rockably mounted on the shaft,and a coil spring connected to the arm 'and Atothe shaft, said spring encircling the shaft, said spring constituting a llost-mortion connection between the arm and .the shaft.

- In testimony whereof I ailix my signature,

HALCOLM ELLIS. 

